Shen Ci stood frozen in place: ??
What did this mean?
She shook her head and stopped overthinking it, taking out the talisman illustration book from her space. Her small hands flipped through the pages until she finally found a healing spiritual talisman—the Healing Spirit Talisman, with the following formula:
“Cinnabar, Moon Glow Flower, Clear Stream Water.”
Shen Ci felt a headache coming on. She had cinnabar and clear stream water, but she had no idea how long it would take for the Moon Glow Flower to grow.
She gently pressed her chest, then patted her own head, muttering to herself, “It’s okay, Shen Ci. Endure it for now—it doesn’t hurt that much anyway.”
Then she took out her storage bag and carefully planted two Moon Glow Flower saplings in the Spirit Field. After that, she successively planted locust tree saplings and various common vegetables and fruits: vibrant green bok choy, plump radishes, full-headed cabbages, tender cucumbers, and round potatoes…
After some thought, Shen Ci decided to stick the two dried branches of the Moon Glow Flower by the small stream.
Oh right, the peach tree!
She pulled out the peach tree sapling she had bought that afternoon, her eyes sparkling. “Senior Sister’s surname is Tao, and she loves peach blossom pastries—she must love peach blossoms too!”
She stood on her tiptoes and scanned the dilapidated Sect, then suddenly shook her head. “I can’t plant them all in one place.”
With that, she hugged the saplings, and her small figure began bustling about:
She planted two under the eaves so that blossoms would be visible when the window was opened,
A few beside every stone step in the Sect, so petals would carpet the entire bluestone path,
And along both sides of the stream, so she could watch the flowing water carry petals away with a gentle murmur.
Before long, Shen Ci had planted peach trees at every scenic spot in the Sect. As a final touch, she added clusters of vibrant roses beside each peach tree.
Gathering Spiritual Qi at her fingertips, Shen Ci controlled the stream water to irrigate the newly planted saplings, panting heavily from exhaustion.
Looking at the remaining empty patches of land, she whispered softly, “When A-Ci earns enough money, I’ll plant the most beautiful and powerful spiritual plants for you.”
Then, unable to hold on any longer, she dragged her weary body to the bed and fell asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
…
Shangyun Sect Main Hall
Flickering candlelight illuminated several faces with varied expressions.
Rong Yuan reported everything that had happened at the market. Shen Qingyao, her eyes red, nestled in Ye Shuyin’s arms, her voice choked with sobs:
“Father, Mother… Big Sister didn’t want to come back with us.”
Song Heyu chimed in from the side, “Not just that—that little beggar even dared to insult us to our faces.”
Rong Yuan shot him a displeased glance before cupping his hands respectfully. “Master, Sect Leader, Xiao Ci is just throwing a childish tantrum.”
Luo Xingyao snorted impatiently, “She’s eight years old and still throwing tantrums! Yao Yao has already been out with us gaining experience.”
Ye Shuyin and Shen Rong exchanged a look, both seeing impatience in each other’s eyes. Shen Rong waved his hand irritably, “Forget it. Once she suffers a bit, she’ll come running back on her own.”
“With so many matters in the Sect and your secret realm trial next month, I don’t have time to worry about her.”
Ye Shuyin gently stroked Shen Qingyao’s hair, her tone indifferent. “Yuan’er, the more you go looking for her, the more she’ll act up. Just leave her be for now.”
“Focus on your cultivation for the time being.”
Shen Qingyao’s eyes lit up, and she cooed, “Mother~ for next month’s secret realm, Yao’er wants to go too~”
Ye Shuyin pinched her nose affectionately. “Alright~”
Typically, only disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage and above were permitted to participate in secret realm trials, as spots were limited. Yet, over the years, Shen Qingyao had joined every time.
Rong Yuan observed the attitudes of everyone in the room and suddenly felt a sense of absurdity, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.
Under the candlelight, Shen Qingyao’s newly purchased flowing fairy dress shimmered with a faint glow, making her look like an innocent young celestial maiden.
Yet, an image of Shen Ci in her tattered coarse linen clothes suddenly flashed through Rong Yuan’s mind. He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel these inexplicable thoughts.
…
The next morning, Shen Ci rubbed her sore arms as she opened the door, ready to tackle the day’s work, but she was stunned by the scene before her—
The Moon Glow Trees she had just planted last night were already in bloom…
Not just a few scattered flowers, but the entire tree was shimmering with silver radiance!
She knew Moon Glow Trees were easy to grow, but not this easy!
Shen Ci had cultivated these flowers before in the Shangyun Sect. Even with the Sect’s dense Spiritual Qi, it took at least a month from seedling to bloom.
Shen Ci hurried to the streamside and saw that the two withered seedlings also showed signs of revival!
She whirled around to survey her surroundings. The locust tree and peach trees, which had been mere tender saplings yesterday, were already sprouting branches after just one night?
And those melons, fruits, and vegetables…
Shen Ci patted her cheeks. This wasn’t a dream, definitely not.
Could it be because of the clear stream water?
The stream revived by her blood actually had miraculous effects when used to irrigate plants.
“So, it’s still because of my blood?”
Shen Ci immediately clasped her hands together, “Please let senior brother and sister return later, please let senior brother and sister return later, please…”
Otherwise how would she explain this? Wuwu~
Sitting by the stream, Shen Ci finally accepted the fact that she possessed such a huge secret.
She took a deep breath, retrieved cinnabar and blank talisman paper from her storage bag, then scooped up a handful of clear stream water. Gently crushing the Moon Glow Flowers, she let the pale silver flower juice drip into the water, creating subtle spiritual glimmers.
Closing her eyes to concentrate, she recalled the drawing method in her mind before suddenly opening them.
Healing Talisman: stops bleeding, heals wounds, calms Spiritual Qi disturbances.
Most suitable for her current situation.
“Swish!”
Shen Ci dipped her fingertip in cinnabar, her brush moving like the wind!
Talisman lines flowed, golden light following.
With the final stroke:
The talisman paper floated in the air without wind, its runes swirling with complexity far beyond ordinary Healing Talismans, faint life force pulsating within.
Shen Ci widened her eyes, carefully picking up the talisman paper, “It worked?!”
Succeeded on the first try!
She dissolved the talisman in clear stream water and drank it. A warm current slid down, like bright sunshine melting snow, instantly spreading through her entire body!
The heart meridian injured by Song Heyu’s palm strike yesterday was completely healed in the blink of an eye.
Her heart racing with excitement, Shen Ci gained instant motivation and drew over a dozen Healing Talismans and Explosive Talismans in one go.
Too bad she was currently in the Sect and couldn’t test the effects of these Explosive Talismans.
Lying back by the stream, Shen Ci chewed on a fresh green foxtail stem while watching the flowing clouds above.
“Are these spiritual talismans good or not?”
Back in the Shangyun Sect, she had to split even the lowest quality hemostatic powder in half to make it last. When had she ever seen proper spiritual pills or talismans?
Turning the talisman with flowing golden patterns over and over in her hands, she felt uncertain. At least they’re better than hemostatic powder, right?
If they’re considered good, maybe she could sell them at the market to the Treasure Pavilion.
Shen Ci scratched her head, “I’ll ask the shopkeeper next time I go to the market.”
“Gurgle…”
Her stomach suddenly rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything despite working all morning.
Shen Ci sprang up like a carp leaping from water and dashed straight to the kitchen.
With a tilt of the storage bag, the ingredients bought yesterday clattered out, piling high on the shelf.
Time to heat the oil!
Shen Ci channeled her Spirit Energy, and a small flame flickered at her fingertips, igniting the stove.
Beef fat sizzled in the wok, melting instantly. Following the recipe from memory, she tossed in Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, spices, and more, stir-frying them all together.